Do you darn socks? What method do you use?

3 years ago by BrightFadedDog to c/sewingrepairing

My feet are right at the top of most size ranges, which means I am constantly wearing holes in the toes. I have taken to darning the hole - or often sewing over the thinning patch to reinforce it before a hole wears through.

Whenever I see instructions for how to darn they use straight stiches like shown in this article, but I don't feel that having a solid patch in a stretchy fabric works well, so use a netting style stitch instead so it has more give. (when I get some time I might do some pics/a tutorial to show you).

Does anyone else darn their socks (or any other knitwear) and if so what type of stitch do you use?

weirdsquid 6 points 3 years ago

Whenever I darn socks (which is not very not often), I try to do it before they get a hole, and then I follow the yarn to dublicate stitches (does that make sense?) If there's already a hole, I use a ladder darner. Both methods are slower than using strait stitches, but so much more satisfying!

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BrightFadedDog 5 points 3 years ago

I've not used a ladder darner. Most of the socks I have darned are quite thin dress socks, would a ladder darner work with those, or only for heavier knits?

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weirdsquid 4 points 3 years ago

Thin fabric is not a problem - people used to repair stockings with ladder darners. But they are best used if single threads snap, creating a ladder. If the fabric is overall weakened, it's probably not worth working with a ladder darner (a fidely business), since the original thread is unlikely to hold on it's own.

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ebikefolder 4 points 3 years ago

I always darn my socks several times (before they are downgraded to shoe polishing rags). And never have had a problem with the simple straight stitches.

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janus2 2 points 3 years ago

tl;dr I haven't tried yet but really want to

I only have one type of sock because I finally found a brand that doesn't have any elastic whatsoever (Buster Brown) without costing an arm and a leg (...Cottonique)

They're very thin socks so they wear through in about a year :( I've accumulated almost 6 pairs with holes in a drawer waiting for me to be brave enough to attempt darning.

The main thing I worry about is being able to feel the darning if it's too bumpy. If there's the slightest variation in pressure anywhere on my socks, I find it impossible to ignore (hence avoiding elastic bands).

Do you think the netting stitch is worth attempting if I'm worried about unevenness? I really like the idea of repairing a stretch fabric with a stretch darn because 1. things matching make brain feel good 2. I'm assuming it'll result in less strain to the areas where the stretchy original fabric is joined to the repair, if there's less difference in elasticity

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BrightFadedDog 3 points 3 years ago

I was worried about a lump too, but I was not able to feel anything. It might vary depending on where it is though - my socks wear in one spot at the end of the big toe.

I think it is worth doing a netting stitch, and I have found it easier to do than straight once I worked it out. The wear spots happen where the sock is stretched, so I think that reducing the amount of stretch in that area would cause the darned area to wear out again more quickly.

I am hoping to get the time soon to make a short video showing the method I use, as I made it up based on a snippet in a book I can't find again and have not seen anywhere else that does the same.

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janus2 2 points 3 years ago

Looking forward to learning this! Very neat stuff

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BrightFadedDog 1 point 3 years ago

I have put together a video showing how I do my darning, the post is here if you are interested.

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janus2 2 points 3 years ago

Thanks so much! It's a great tutorial :D

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